The GDC Awards 2025 are set to recognize Sam Lake and Lucas Pope.

The Game Developers Choice Awards have disclosed the honorees for this year's Lifetime Achievement and Pioneer Award categories.

The Lifetime Achievement recognition will be bestowed upon Sam Lake, Remedy's creative director, while Lucas Pope, an independent game designer, will receive the Pioneer Award.

Lake has a long history at the Finnish developer, spanning more than 30 years, contributing as a writer, director, and actor in franchises such as Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and Control.

Just last month, Lake was honored with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 14th Annual New York Game Awards.

Lucas Pope, with over 20 years in the game industry, is known for creating indie successes like Paper's, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn. Additionally, he contributed to Naughty Dog's projects including Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

According to the organizers, Pope has significantly advanced gaming narratives and mechanics, exploring unconventional genres and storytelling techniques.

The selection for the Lifetime Achievement and Pioneer Awards was made by the 2025 Game Developers Choice Editorial Committee, based on recommendations from the International Choice Awards Network.

"The GDC Awards are known for celebrating individuals who elevate gaming to an impactful storytelling medium," stated Stephenie Hawkins, the GDC event director.

"We're thrilled to acknowledge Sam Lake and Lucas Pope for their innovative contributions to narrative and gameplay in the gaming industry."

The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 19 at the Game Developers Conference held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

The finalists for the GDC Awards were previously announced, with Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong leading the nominations.